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Public commenters accuse trustee of bullying over PragerU and trans remarks; trustee defends stance
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Summary
Multiple public commenters at the Kern County Board of Education meeting criticized trustee conduct and requested curriculum transparency after remarks about PragerU and transgender people; Trustee James Robinson defended his comments and asserted his position on judicial review and local authority. The board did not take action on the complaints.
Public comment at the Kern County Board of Education meeting on February 2026 focused on trustee conduct and proposed curricular materials.
John Hart, a retired photojournalist and former college instructor, told the board that Trustee James Robinson publicly ‘‘bully[ied]’’ a constituent, Ellen Schaffhauser, after she raised concerns about PragerU materials and the board’s earlier attempt to place the Ten Commandments in schools. Hart recounted Trustee Robinson holding up a copy of the Constitution and said Robinson told the room: "You made a reference to the First Amendment and the separation of church and state, and there's nothing in the First Amendment regarding the separation of church and state," which Hart described as evidence of a lack of understanding about judicial review. Hart urged the board to consider judicial‑review principles when discussing such matters.
Helen Acosta, a public commenter, accused Trustee Laurie Eskew of telling adults who support trans rights to "seek professional help," calling the remark "inappropriate, unprofessional, and fundamentally incompatible with the role of a trustee." Acosta said trustees are entrusted with "the safety, dignity, and educational access of all children" and asked the board to protect transgender students from stigmatizing statements.
Ellen Schaffhauser, a former Ridgecrest teacher, asked the board for transparency about any PragerU curriculum or supplemental materials and requested to review textbooks and the Freedom 250 teacher toolkit before those materials are used in classrooms. Several speakers raised related concerns about immigrant families and possible ICE activity in schools and asked for policy clarity and supports for affected students.
Trustee James Robinson addressed the board later in the meeting and defended his prior remarks. Robinson said he stood by his words and invoked the idea of elected officials as "lesser magistrates," adding, "I'm standing by my disagreement with some of the Supreme Court decisions, and I'm also standing by my right as a lesser magistrate to express those objections." He asked that discussion remain civil but did not retract the comments that prompted the public complaints.
The board did not take formal disciplinary action during the meeting. Public commenters asked the board to review curriculum materials and policy language; several trustees acknowledged the concerns and noted follow‑up would be managed administratively or through future agenda items. The public comment exchange ended with no formal motion from the board specific to the complaints.
